jigokulogs | July open log and catch-all [OPEN]

[ Izō has taken it upon himself to take care of the stray dogs around the city. It's a little odd to see the half-tengu feeding, water, and paying attention to the dogs, but he seems happy, happier than he's been in a month. That's a low bar, though.

You may find him in various places in the city, carrying a bag of food to one of the small parks, setting out water bowls, tracking down injured dogs, and even playing with them or laying down for a nap. Choose your own adventure with Izō and dogs! ]

[At some point Izo will probably be setting out food under a tree, and he will be able to hear a creak above him.

Up in the branches of the tree there are two sets of catlike eyes up in the tree. Lalli's icon is an accurate representation of what's going on too, because he's trying to help out a stray cat that got spooked by the presence of the dog Izo is feeding.]

Never knew a slut like you could be soft. [ Nishitani is there. It's dusk, the lights are starting to flicker on. A small city park, where Izo is taking care of puppies. Nishitani leans at the park entrance, brick and stone under his shoulder, cigarette hanging from his lips and suit, as always, immaculate. ] Thought you'd stay rock hard through anything!

Edited (me being dumb) 2022-07-02 06:30 (UTC)

[ He looks up as he's dumping food into a small dish, then squints. And stares. And finally, laughs. ]

Ya...got a li'l somethin' on yer face.

[ The dog is more interested in food than the cat, at least. ]

[ Izō looks back over his shoulder with a somewhat annoyed look, then shrugs. He looks back down at a small, fuzzy black puppy that jumps up at him for attention, obliging it with surprisingly gentle pets. His expression softens, undeniably fond. ]

Strays gotta take care'a each other. 'S all.

One hell of a stray. [ Nishitani's only known Izo as a kept boy, Majima's and Emily's both. Nishitani has to admit he's also grown fond of Izo, and not just because of proximity. A mean little cunt when he wants to be, wilful and mouthy-- ah, whatever. Iichan's cute. That's that. ]

Know a couple of people that'd call your shit on being one, though.

[ ryouma is not surprised to see izō doing this in an overall sense — because he's good!! — but he is surprised to run into him doing it right now. he's just passing by on his way to whatever when he spots izō carrying food and setting out water.

which ryouma is content to watch quietly for a bit because it's nice, but he's not exactly sneaky about it either. ]

Can I give ya a hand?

[The cat is still poofed up and partially perched on Lalli's face, but now Lalli's expression has changed.]

It was startled. I was trying to get it down.

[ As much as he hates to admit it, he's grown fond of Nishitani, too. It's why Izō's not trying to posture more right now and is willing to be even slightly vulnerable in front of him. ]

I ain't no more, but... [ His brow furrows as he scoops the puppy into his arms. ] I used t' be. Only things that gave a shit 'bout me back then were the strays in Kyoto.

[ He could elaborate further, but he doesn't want to. Picking at old wounds never helped anything. He'd been kicked out of the Tosa Loyalist Party and left alone in the capital after his master was taken back to Tosa. Everyone had left him behind. It's not like a murderer on the run from the law could really make connections without putting themselves in danger, anyway. ]

[ Izō looks a little embarrassed to be caught by Ryouma of all people, but help is help. He shoves a bag of kibble into Ryouma's hands.

There's his answer. ]

There's five of 'em here...Three got their food already, th' other two like t' eat in the corner over there. They're gonna growl if ya get too close, but they ain't gonna bite.

I can tell it was fuckin' startled.

[ He's trying not to laugh again. Izō decides to be nice, though, and stands in such a way the dog won't see Lalli and the cat if he comes down from his perch. ]

Get yer ass down here already.

Got this all figured out already, huh? They got names yet?

[ ryouma is happy to help! even if this is more and different work, it's more relaxing. ]

Besides, I'm pretty good about gettin' growled at and avoidin' gettin' bit, so I'm sure I'll do just fine~

[ look at all the experience he has from spending time with izō. ]

[it's not entirely what she expected, but there's a smile on her face as she sees him playing with the dogs. she's about to say something, and then one of them notices there's another person and runs over to sniff and examine and investigate, full of wiggles and small barks. Emily can only laugh and crouch down to let them get a better look.]

Bold little one, aren't you?

[and full of energy, given how it can't decide what it wants to do, sniff or run around or get petted.]

You're not there anymore, you know. [ Nishitani blows out smoke as another dog runs past him and towards Izo, looking enough like the puppies to likely be a parent. He watches, for a moment-- ]

[ He's been trying to convince Majima of the same thing, he's been worrying a rock that likely will never budge. But Izo isn't Majima, and maybe he can redirect the energy he'd been forcing elsewhere to a channel with more... give. ]

You've got money, status, rank. Only an idiot would go against you now, Iichan. If you care so much about these strays, why not do it properly?

Yeah, 'course they got names!

[ Like he wouldn't have named them yet!! ]

Th' two over there are Shiro and Koichi.

[ Yes, Shiro is a white dog. He's not that creative with names, excuse him. ]

[ Izō almost says something himself, but just smiles when he see how...relaxed Emily is. How long has it been since she's been this at ease? ]

Yuki's real friendly, ain't she? Really likes ladies...Took her awhile t' warm up t' me.

[ He's about to yell about how he knows he's not there anymore, but Nishitani's question catches him off guard. Izō ruffles the mother dog's fur with a grin, muttering something only meant for her. The puppies rush over in a chaotic little swarm to greet her.

With the puppies distracted, he takes a moment to stand up and dust himself off. ]

...Eh? Whaddya mean? Ain't this proper?

Oh, so she's rather particular. I see, I see.

[it's definitely been a while, but the look she gives the dog is sincere, concerned with nothing more than trying to pet Yuki while the dog also attempts to lick her hand. it's enough to make her laugh, and finally the dog settles down enough to be able to get the offered affection.]

So you've known about these fellows for a while, then?

Ah! Way ahead'a me then. When didja start doin' this anyway?

[ there will be no judgments. ryouma probably couldn't do better if he had to think of a bunch of names. ]

'Cause y' always were pretty good at this sorta thing, now that I think about it.

[ plenty of strays in tosa too. other than izō and his family ryouma befriended the animals as well, mostly for the same reasons oryou decided not to eat him, but he's never felt he's as good with them in the same way. ]

Glad t' see ya lookin' happy.

[ Izō has been...busy after the curse explosion. He'd disappeared for weeks and spent some quiet time with Emily and Majima to recover afterward. Now he was trying to get back in Toraguma's good graces, which meant keeping himself busy with clan business. He's busy hunting down some potential fighters for the Arena when he passes by Hizen.

A lump forms in his throat. Of all the people he saw that night, Hizen was the only one he hadn't reconciled with. His mouth goes dry. How could he forget?

Izō wants to run.

He can't.

He chokes down the lump in his throat and calls out.]

Oi, Hizen!

[ Keep it light, he tells himself. ]

(After he'd left Izo, things had only gotten worse. It was like the entire city was just out to get him; picking old wounds and deep insecurities and cutting at him until... he'd retreated to Norimune's place where the company was familiar and didn't ask questions or bother him. After enough time, he'd begun to venture out for the sake of keeping himself busy and distracted and oh boy hadn't that backfired? With what felt like so many people suddenly perceiving him in a way that made him just want to crawl back into a quiet place.

It's been a rollercoaster of emotions for weeks and just when he's begun to recover again, he hears a familiar voice out in Shuten territory and freezes completely. A wave of emotion washes hits him instantly and he looks like he's in complete disbelief. This... isn't Izo. Izo's missing. He's still missing. But there shouldn't be anymore of those illusions, right? But...)

[Fumikage doesn't normally go out looking for stray animals, but he does notice the pained whimpering coming from down one of the nearby alleys. When he follows it, he stumbles upon a stray mutt of a dog, whimpering with an injured leg. He moves to its side carefully, trying to help it calm down.]

Do not worry, I won't leave you alone.

[He's not an expert with animals the same way his classmate Koji is, but he can at least help keep an injured dog calm. This is probably where Izō will find him, using one hand to gently pet the dog's head while he uses the other to browse his phone, looking for the nearest vet clinic.]

Get a roof over their head. [ Nishitani watches the swarm of animals that circle around Izo's ankles, their barking and nipping already making Nishitani feel exhausted instantly. God. Izo at least has the energy to handle fucking puppies. ]

Spend your money on a shelter or something.

Edited 2022-07-04 04:33 (UTC)

[ He tilts his head to the side. ]

...Ya really think a guy like me can manage somethin' like that?

[ Izō finds it odd still for people to encourage him to find other pursuits. In his mind, the only thing he's good for is killing. Managing a shelter, taking care of all these dogs...Is someone like him really capable of it?

He isn't sure. ]

[ Izō approaches him slowly, head cocked. ]

What, been so long ya don't recognize me no more?

[ They can't avoid the elephant in the room forever, but he can at least throw a sheet over it for a minute. ]

July open log and catch-all [OPEN]

Who let the dogs out

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Hizen

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